What's in a cloud ? What are types of clouds ?

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What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

        WHEN you look up in the sky on most days, you are likely to see some kind of cloud. Think about the different appearances of clouds. Some are puffy, others are thin. Some look like a flat blanket across the sky, where others float along by themselves. 

What's in a clouIn this article, you will read about the location and shape of the clouds, and their chemical makeup. Also you will read how clouds function as part of water cycle.

What's in a clo Location and shape of clouds appear in different layers of the atmosphere and come in many sizes and shapes. 

There are three general categories of clouds :- What's in a cloud    

1. Cirrus What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?
2. Cumulus What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?
3. Stratus What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

 These names come from the Latin words describing their shape:

• "wispy" / "curl of hair" (cirrus)  
• "layer" (stratus) What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?
• "lump" / "heap" (cumulus) What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

Cirrus clouds are the clouds highest up in the sky. They appear "wispy" and thin. What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

Stratus clouds are lowest in altitude, meaning they are closest to the ground. They tend to form a "layer" across the sky and when they are present we often say that the day is "overcast".

Cumulus clouds usually have a flattened base and seem to grow upwards. These clouds tend to be "lumped" together in patches and can look like big puffs of cotton or a piece of cauliflower.

What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

Chemical Makeup of Clouds What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

        Did you know that you have something in common with clouds ? Just like humans, clouds are mostly made of water. 

What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

        The location of the clouds in the atmosphere determines whether the water in the cloud is a solid (ice), liquid (water drops) or a gas (water vapour). For example, a cirrus cloud is made mostly of ice crystals. This is because cirrus clouds are high up in the atmosphere where the air is very cold. What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

         Cumulus clouds are made of ice crystals and some water vapor. If you have ever seen steam rising from a hot pot on the stove, then you have seen water vapour. Because cumulus clouds are in the middle layers of the atmosphere, the air is cold but not as cold as higher up. The water may form into ice crystals, or it may remain as water vapour. Because this clouds contains water vapour, cumulus clouds are mostly associated with rain. Stratus clouds are mostly made up of water droplets as they are closest to the ground where the air is generally the warmest. What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

Clouds and the Water Cycle What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

      Did you know that there is the same amount of water on planet Earth today as there was millions of years ago ? It's true, and it is all because of the water cycle. Clouds function as one of the three parts of the cycle. 

Water can be found in one of the three places: What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

• on land, What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?
• in the air, or What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?
• in the clouds. What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

       On land water is found on places like oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams, to name a few. Water evaporates as water vapour and becomes part of the air. You have seen water vapour if you have watched steam rise from a hot pot or seen your breath on cold morning.What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

       Once it is part of the air, the water vapour is pulled upward where the air is cooled. In the cool air, the water water vapour forms tiny water droplets which we see as clouds. Clouds become full of water droplets, and eventually "empty" themselves in the form of precipitation (i.e.: rain, snow). The cycle of water moving from one place to other (land, air and clouds) has continued for millions of years, and is happening right now.  What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

       The next time you go out, look up in the sky and try to identify the types of clouds you see. Can you determine how the clouds formed ? What form of water is likely to be in those clouds ?

What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

Using Chemistry to Make Rain What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

Have you ever heard of "cloud seeding" ? What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?

        Scientists have actually figured out a way to make it rain, using a chemical called silver iodide ( or dry ice). A scientist in an airplane can spray a specific amount o silver iodide onto an existing cloud. The chemical freezes the water that is in the cloud, where it becomes too heavy to stay in the cloud. Therefore, the water must come out in the form of rain! What's in a cloud    What's in a cloud ?  What are types of clouds ?